I don't even know where to begin with this. Let's see, it's a site run by the Veteran's administration for the Department of Defense to introduce it's health care workers to procedures for intial treatment of veterans returning from combat. They do so through the use of an animated version of the Gilgamesh Epic (!!!) and the presentation is Vaudevillian/Borscht Belt. There's even a brief reference to Groucho! Ultra-bizarre. I look forward to future VA cartoons featuring Beowulf and/or the Vedas!

http://www.gheehappy.com/A fun site! They have the cutest pictures on prints and t-shirts of Hindu dieties there. And the one of Mother Kali is just precious! All murder cults should be so adorable! Now where did I leave that strangling scarf...

These routes ARE pretty impressive. But I'm afraid they pale in comparison when it comes to driving around Baileys Crossroads at rush hour when there's a half inch of snow on the ground. For sheer terror and amazement, nothing can compare.

I still feel we're not looking at our definitions and evaluations of intelligence and consciousness with enough sophistication. As we do so, animals are going to present us with more and more surprises and shades of meaning. (And I am betting on elephants being reevaluated in the long run...).

Monday, December 25, 2006

Happy Anniversary to The Exorcist! Probably the best propaganda for Roman Catholicism in the past century, and a fun horror movie, to boot! Suddenly, parents had an excuse for why their kids were always smoking dope and sassing 'em! Based on a "real" incident that was exposed as bogus long ago (http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html). But some great imagery and location shots in Gtown. Meet you at the Steps!

As usual, the Post misses the whole god damned point. The important feature of the Christmas special and the duet was the historical importance in pop music of Bing and David. Crosby was THE entertainer in America from the mid 30's up until Sinatra started to move in during the mid 40's; and he continued to be a major money maker and star right up to his death. It became popular in pop music circles to chart super superstars as going from Bing to Sinatra to Elvis to the Beatles. And after 1970 there was always talk of who would be "next". No one ever really was. But Bowie probably came closest in terms of both depth and breadth of his exposure and influence.So, here we have a unique performance by the grand old man of pop and someone who was as close to being the heir apparent as anyone. THAT is what the Post missed, THAT is why it's of interest - it's not just "white bread" Crosby and "offbeat" Bowie; it's a chance to see two of the most important people in pop music history performing together for the first and only time, (and performing quite well, I might add).And while we're at it, I take exception to the Post's breathless characterizations of Bowie. I watched that broadcast, and he was quite subdued. There was a wonderful video in the show of him singing "Heroes", (my fave Bowie song), but it was no wilder than an episode of The Muppet Show or any other artist's performance at the time. Only a Postie would go on about Ziggy Stardust, (a performance aid Bowie had moved away from years earlier), in the context of the show. There was no such weirdness, bizarreness, or any other hyperbole the article is throwing around. It was just a typical Holiday show of its time. Perhaps if they had been born in time to see it, the Posties would know that. They really need to get a grip. And they need to hire someone who has an interest in and a knowledge of anything that happened before the year 2000. They're just pathetic.

My friends Peter and Perry will be hosting a Christmas music spectacular on Perry's regular show, "One Part Harmony" on WRVU out of Nashville this coming Sunday morning (12/24)from 9:00 - 11:00 EST. The broadcast may be followed from the above link, and will also be available at the site's archive. Pete has already hinted that we can look forward to Christmas tunes from the Kinks, the Pogues and DC's own Root Boy Slim & The Sex Change Band. I can only hope that they will see fit to include such Holiday Classics as "Godzilla Christmas" by The Towels, "Monster Holiday" by Lon Chaney Jr., and the immortal "I Found The Brains Of Santa Claus" by Jason & The Strap-Tones.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

That Ghost Host With The Most, Count Gore De Vol, is webcasting the Christopher Lee film, "Horror Hotel", this week! I highly recommend this rather obscure horror movie. It's sort of a proto-Hammer Studios film and very cool with an interesting plot and imagery. Neat stuff!

Merry Whatever!

With December 17th we come to the beginning of the Saturnalia Festivals. So let me just take the time right now to wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy Saturnalia, Christmas, Channukah, Solstice, New Years, Festivus, Yule, Kwanzaa, Cthulhumas, and whatever other names we've come up with for the darkest time of the year. Since I was a kid I've always taken some time around this season to reflect back on the previous twelve months, to sort of recount and categorize what I've done wrong, and what I've done right; where I've succeeded, and where I've failed; to appreciate the friends that are with me, and to remember those who no longer are. And to get some idea of where the hell I'm going. I suspect I am not alone in this activity. May your past be satisfying and honorable, and the future more so.

Who's the black private dick That's a sex machine to all the chicks?BLAU!Ya damn right!Who is the man that would risk his neck For his brother man?BLAU!Can you dig it?Who's the cat that won't cop out When there's danger all about?BLAU!Right On!They say this cat Blau is a bad mother...SHUT YOUR MOUTH!I'm talkin' 'bout Blau.THEN WE CAN DIG IT!He's a complicated man But no one understands him but his womanROB BLAU!

This was a scene from a movie called Son Of Dracula, one I doubt any of you have seen; probably because it's a muddled mess of a film. But you got to see Ringo and Nilsson mumble through a bunch of surreal scenes and there was some excellent music, including this song, (and the wonderful ditty, Daylight, with it's happy-go-lucky tune masking a dark theme). And yes, that's Keith Moon on drums. I caught it when it came out. My friends Roger and Margrete took me down to the old Foxchase Cinema for a midnight showing amidst the porno movies that were its usual fare, ("See Misty Beethoven - Our 75th Week!"). The crowd was very edgy; for once I was the most sober person in the room. People were yelling up at the screen in sort of a proto-Rocky Horror fashion. Which was fine. Like I said, the movie was a mess...Poor Harry, another lost talent. For the record, he recorded the second best version of As Time Goes By. That's pretty impressive in my book.

An incredibly weak article, but hey, it's the Post, so what did you expect? What people need to know is that regardless of one's views of the holiday, (and let's face it, mine are pretty shaky), the Grinch is incredibly important. You've got the basic storyline and artwork by that genius, Dr. Seuss; animation by another genius, Chuck Jones; and narration by a fine actor and one of the greatest voices in the history of mankind, Boris Karloff; (and let's not forget the theme song sung by the unmistakable and immortal voice of Thurl Ravenscroft, AND June Foray as Cindy Lou Who). Why, we're talking something along the lines of THE Harmonic Convergence of Pop culture here! Who hasn't watched this at least half a dozen times? And does anyone NOT know the theme song? Why, only Gilligan's Island's theme is probably better known. As for myself, I am petitioning the Olympics Committee to recognize Zoo-Zither-Carzay in upcoming games. This is imporatant and Essential.

http://www.dogfish.com/brewings/Limited_Edition_Beers/Olde_School_Barleywine/18/index.htmWe just purchased some this morning and I'm trying it now. I've been very impressed by Dogfish brews ever since they were recommended to me by Phil down at one of my fave restaurants - Laporta's, (no web site, but it's at 1660 Duke Street, 703/683-6316 ). At any rate, their IPA's are just about at the level of my beloved Stone Brewery, and now here's their barleywine. Like Stone's brews - this is not for the timid or meek. We're talking 15% alcohol and a real powerhouse of flavor. Wow!

An interesting personal project. The accompanying video has some nice shots of Arlington. For those of you out in the hinterland, it's quite a place. When folks are visiting town I often tell 'em that Mt. Vernon is my favorite place to visit, but Arlington vies with the Lincoln Memorial as to the most important place to see.

Hmmm, there's something about a brewery in a place called Belchertown that sounds less than appetizing. I am curious if the good people in the Maine Department of What Is Pleasant would ban alcohol making fun of the Easter Bunny? Or perhaps the Tooth Fairy? How about other mythological creatures such as unicorns, elves, fairies, mermaids? I need to know if my plans to market "Frosty the Snowman Melted Pilsner" in Bangor are in jeopardy.

How long, O Cthulhu, will we have to tolerate non-believer rampages such as this against us at our Holiest Day of the year? Already, there are stores forcing the clerks to say "Happy Harvest" when greeting customers, rather than the traditional "Merry Human Sacrifice". And try to find a blood-stained altar! In my youth, every neighborhood had one prominently displayed in public parks and store windows. Nowadays, you'd be lucky to find so much as a skull on a pike. All in the name of some ACLU mandated secularism. It makes me sick! Something is being lost here and I worry for our children's sake that the true meaning of Samhain is going with it. We must protect our sacred traditions, for our children's immortally damned souls, if nothing else. It's time these do-gooders and busy bodies realized that this is a Cthulhoid Nation and founded on Cthulhoid Principles. We need to Re-Take America, and restore her to our Lord's Tentacled Embrace! Ia! Ia!

Friday, December 01, 2006

A very nice video, and a wonderful song, perhaps my favorite by 'Chelle. It's been decades since I've been in L.A.*, and I hear it's the only American town that's a bigger pain in the ass to drive than D.C., but I would like to take the freeway there once at night while listening to this tune.

*The last time would have been '77. I was visiting my Uncle Bill and Aunt Lois, two of the nicest people, always happy to take me around to bookstores and whatnot. Both long gone, and both sorely missed. I found the town interesting, but also sinister. There seemed to be fires everywhere, and the ever present danger of earthquakes. In DC the dangers are human, LA has that too, but the blind wrath of angry earth gods is a little more than I want to roll dice with.

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This site will be devoted to all the funny, weird, disturbing, and unusual stuff I find or am sent. This will include pictures, games, comics, cartoons, articles, jokes, and anomalies. Enjoy!